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Special K Crunchy Oat Granola is available now in two tasty flavours: Mixed Berries and Dark Chocolate Curls
- Kellogg’s adds new granola to its popular Special K range
- New Special K Crunchy Oat Granola will launch in two tempting flavours – fruity Mixed Berries and delicious Dark Chocolate Curls
- The crunchy breakfast option has an oat-rich base and puffed-grains – it is classed as non-HFSS, is high in oat grain fibre to support gut health1 and has 30 per cent less sugar2
- Special K Crunchy Oat Granola is available now in Asda, Waitrose and Morrisons (RRP £2.99)
Kellogg’s has launched a brand-new granola as part of its popular Special K range.
Special K Crunchy Oat Granola’s delicious crunchy clusters, with 30% less sugar2, make the perfect breakfast choice and come in two tasty flavours: for those who like a fruity twist, Mixed Berries with blackcurrants and cranberries or for those chocolate lovers, Dark Chocolate Curls with 64% cocoa.
Special K’s latest innovation has an oat rich base with puffed grains making it a tasty, light textured granola. It’s also high in oat grain fibre to support gut health and is classed as non-HFSS.
Emily Dutton, senior brand manager Special K, said: “It’s so important to get your day off to a good start1 and it’s easy when you’ve got something that tastes so delicious! Our food development experts have created a new Special K Crunchy Oat Granola to give people a great tasting high fibre option with 30% less sugar2 than other granolas. With so many different ways you can enjoy Special K Crunchy Oat Granola for breakfast, it’s sure to be a household favourite!”
1 Special K Crunchy Oat Granola Mixed Berries / Dark Chocolate Curls contains 6.5g / 6.0g oat grain fibre per 100g. Oat grain fibre contributes to an increase in faecal bulk. Enjoy as part of a varied, balanced diet and healthy lifestyle.
2 30% less sugar on average than other granolas. IRI UK 2021.
3 RRP. Pricing is at the sole discretion of the retailer


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Nintendo reports a sharp rise in full year revenue and profit on the back of Nintendo Switch.
The platform holder posted net sales of $9.7 billion, a 115.8% increase year-on-year. Nintendo Switch sold in 15 million units in the last financial year - which is more than the entire install base of Wii U. Overall, Switch is approaching 18 million sales with 17.79 million machines shipped so far (the console launched at the end of Nintendo's last financial year, where it shipped just shy of 3 million machines).
The biggest game of the year was Super Mario Odyssey, which sold 10.41 million copies since its debut in October. This includes digital, physical and bundled copies of the game.
Just behind it is Mario Kart 8: Deluxe, with 9.22 million copies - more than the game achieved on Wii U. While The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild sits on 8.5 million units. Splatoon 2 also sold strongly with 6.02 million sales. There were 12 Switch games that sold over one million units last year, 1-2-Switch now sits on 2.29 million, Arms hit 1.85 million, Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is on 1.31 million while the newly released Kirby Star Allies is already at 1.26 million. 63.5 million Switch games were sold last year in total.
The company now expects to sell a further 20 million Switch consoles over the next 12 months and 100 million games.
Switch grabs all the headlines, but there were other successes for Nintendo last year. 6.4 million 3DS consoles and 35.64 million 3DS games were sold last year, driven by Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon (7.51 million sales across both). Although this is a decline compared with the previous financial year when 7.3 million machines were sold and 55m games, it's nevertheless an impressive achievement for a machine in its seventh year on the market.
Nintendo expects to sell 4m 3DS consoles and 16m games over the next financial year.
Elsewhere, the SNES Mini sold 5.28 million consoles, while Amiibo figures grew year-on-year to 10.3 million figures sold (and 5.8 million Amiibo cards).
The area that Nintendo isn't quite seeing the expected returns is in its smartphone business. However, even that grew 62% year-on-year to $360 million, driven by Fire Emblem Heroes, Animal Crossing: Pocket Paradise and Super Mario Run.
Mario Kart Tour is due to release on smartphones over the next financial year.
Nintendo says its digital sales have risen 87% year-on-year, and now represents $556.5 million - plenty of room for growth there.
Overall, Nintendo expects sales to hit $11 billion over the next financial year, and profit to reach $1.51 billion.

domain: news


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The Future is Green: Eco-Friendly Baby Products on the Rise
In recent years, there has been a growing concern about the impact of conventional baby products on both the environment and the health of our little ones. As parents become more conscious of the need to create a sustainable future for their children, the demand for eco-friendly baby products is skyrocketing. From organic diapers to chemical-free toys, the market is flooding with a wide range of environment-friendly options. This trend not only benefits the planet but also ensures the well-being of our babies. The future is undoubtedly green, and eco-friendly baby products are leading the way.
One of the most significant contributors to environmental degradation is the disposable diaper industry. On average, a baby goes through around 6,000 diaper changes before being potty trained. The use of conventional disposable diapers results in massive amounts of waste ending up in landfills each year, where they can take up to 500 years to decompose. However, parents now have access to more sustainable alternatives such as cloth diapers or biodegradable disposable diapers that are made from renewable resources like bamboo or plant-based materials. These diapers not only reduce waste but also minimize exposure to harmful chemicals found in traditional disposable diapers.
Another area where eco-friendly baby products are gaining popularity is baby skincare. Traditional baby skincare products often contain harsh chemicals and synthetic ingredients that can irritate delicate baby skin and cause long-term health issues. Parents are now turning to natural and organic alternatives that are free from chemicals, fragrances, and dyes. These products, made with organic plant extracts and gentle compounds, not only keep babies’ skin healthy but also play a role in reducing their carbon footprint.
Toys are another essential aspect of a baby’s life, but they are often made from plastic materials that are harmful to the environment. Non-recyclable plastic toys end up in landfills and contribute to pollution and toxic waste. However, eco-conscious toy manufacturers are now producing sustainable toys made from recycled materials or natural fibers such as organic cotton, wood, or rubber. These toys are not only safer for babies to play with, but they also promote a healthier planet.
The demand for eco-friendly baby products has not only captured the attention of parents but also inspired innovative companies to create sustainable options. Start-ups and established brands alike are investing in research and development to create baby products that leave a minimal ecological footprint while prioritizing safety and functionality. This focus on sustainability aligns with the growing environmental consciousness of consumers and promises a greener future for generations to come.
Apart from the environmental benefits, choosing eco-friendly baby products also contributes to the baby’s overall health and well-being. Conventional products often contain harmful chemicals, including phthalates, parabens, and formaldehyde, which have been linked to allergies, hormonal disturbances, and developmental issues. By opting for eco-friendly alternatives, parents can provide a safer and healthier environment for their babies, reducing the risk of exposure to toxic elements that could have long-term consequences.
The shift towards eco-friendly baby products is not just a passing trend. It is a movement rooted in the desire to create a sustainable future for our children. As more parents become aware of the impact their choices have on the environment and their baby’s well-being, the demand for eco-friendly baby products is bound to continue its upward trajectory.
To ensure the success of this movement, it is crucial for governments, manufacturers, and consumers to work together. Governments should implement stricter regulations on the use of harmful chemicals in baby products and incentivize the production and purchase of eco-friendly alternatives. Manufacturers need to invest in sustainable practices and eco-friendly materials, making them more accessible and affordable for all parents. Finally, consumers have the power to drive change by choosing eco-friendly products, demanding transparency from manufacturers, and spreading awareness about the importance of sustainability.
As we look towards the future, the rise of eco-friendly baby products is not just a positive development; it is a necessity. Embracing these environmentally conscious choices not only benefits our children but also protects the planet they will inherit. The future is indeed green, and by supporting and promoting eco-friendly baby products, we are paving the way for a greener and healthier world.


text: Alibaba chairman Jack Ma Yun has agreed to pay about 3.3 billion yuan (HK$4.1 billion) for a 20.6 per cent stake in financial software provider Hundsun Technologies, a move that could help bolster the e-commerce giant's efforts in online financial services. After the deal closes, Ma will be the controlling shareholder of Hundsun, with the software firm's founder and its management team holding about 10 per cent. Ma acquired the stake from Hundsun Group, which sold its entire holding to a company 99 per cent owned by Ma. Hundsun Technologies is recognised as the mainland's biggest software provider for securities traders and fund companies. Headquartered in Hangzhou and listed on the Shanghai stock exchange, the company said it "will maintain independence" in human resources, capital, finances, structure and operations. Alibaba, along with other major mainland internet firms Tencent and Baidu, has expanded into the financial services sector to the dismay of state-owned banks and funds. Administrative supervision of the online finance business has been stepped up in recent weeks and stringent regulations might be issued to rein in the mushrooming internet finance sector. Meanwhile, Alibaba joined hedge fund sponsor Coatue Management and investment firm Third Point in Wednesday's US$250 million Series D financing of Lyft, a San Francisco-based ride-sharing service. US venture capital firms Andreesen Horowitz, Founders Fund and Mayfield Ventures, previous investors in Lyft, also participated in the financing. "This investment will help us continue to grow in the United States and around the world," Lyft co-founders John Zimmer and Logan Green said in a blog post. Lyft competes against Uber in offering a social, mobile application-linked transport alternative to taxi rides. The transaction marked another strategic bet in a new sector by Alibaba, which paid US$215 million last month for a stake in US mobile-messaging application provider Tango. Alibaba has sharpened its focus on fast-growing US start-ups after establishing its own investment team in San Francisco last year.


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Add Rihanna to the list of celebs embracing Barbiecore fashion.
On July 28, the pregnant singer stepped out for a date night with partner A$AP Rocky at Giorgio Baldi, one of her favorite Los Angeles restaurants, while showcasing her baby bump in a bubble pink Xssential Bralette and matching relaxed pants from her Savage X Fenty line.
Rihanna paired the look with vintage Gianni Versace fall/winter 1996 clear frame diamante sunglasses, a vintage Fendi metallic baguette purse and gray PUMA x 8enjamin sneakers with pink, purple and white accents from designer Benjamin Lamprey‘s new collection. The pair’s date night comes amid a rising trend of pink fashion styles that coincides with recent marketing for the Barbie movie, which was released July 21.
Rihanna, 35, is expecting her and Rocky’s second child, who will join their son RZA Athelston Mayers, 14 months. The “Umbrella” singer had announced her latest pregnancy in February by showcasing her baby bump onstage in a red outfit at the 2023 Super Bowl Halftime Show, which was recently nominated for five Emmys.


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Titan ONE introduces account-based targeting technology to its solutions portfolio to build brand presence and drive demand gen in strategic accounts.
Titan ONE announced the addition of account-based targeting platforms to its solutions portfolio to support enhanced brand building and accelerate demand generation for clients.
Platform capabilities include orchestrated account engagement at scale, along with direct access to targeted, account-based programmatic advertising from within HubSpot. This provides end-to-end clarity around impact at both the contact and company level.
Marketing Technology News: MarTech Interview with Zohar Bronfman, CEO and Co-Founder at Pecan
“Embracing ABM technology is an important and logical step forward in our mission to work with purpose and maximize impact for our clients, through our brand, content and campaign work.” – Mark Glucki, Co-managing Partner and Head of Content
“There is a significant untapped opportunity for our clients to integrate highly-targeted accounts-based promotion technology into our strategic marketing campaigns. This can compound the value compared to traditional paid spends alone, and helps bring marketing and sales closer together as strategic partners within organizations,” said Scott Lanaway, Co-managing Partner and Head of Strategy. “The reality is that the buyer’s journey is not linear, and multiple buyers are involved. Becoming ubiquitous among a targeted, qualified audience — and being able to personalize messaging, measure and respond to intent — makes more sense than traditional ‘spray and pray’ paid tactics.”
“We’re very interested in platforms that give us the ability to reach multiple buyers within target accounts and gain further clarity on attribution at a contact level. Embracing these platforms is an important and logical step forward in our mission to work with purpose and maximize impact for our clients,” said Mark Glucki, Co-managing Partner and Head of Content. “It will also allow us to leverage our strategic campaign content in new ways to excite and engage relevant audiences.”
Starting today, Titan ONE will be offering account-based targeting as an available component in campaigns and media plans that will augment brand, inbound and campaign strategies. This ABM-focused targeting will ladder into strategic messaging architecture as an additional way to reach clearly defined audiences with relevant, personalized content.
Marketing Technology News: Gratitude: The Secret Marketing Sauce You’re Not Using, But Should Be


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The growth of South African broadband Internet access over the next five years is likely to be driven by the country's mobile network operators.
That's according to Mark Taylor, MD of Nashua Mobile, who says that MTN and Vodacom are emerging as major players in the South African broadband market as they continue to drive data tariffs down even as coverage and connectivity speeds of their mobile services improves.
Says Taylor: "Between them, MTN and Vodacom already have close to 500 000 3G and HSDPA data card users, while Telkom only has about 420 000 ADSL subscribers. The gap between the mobile operators and Telkom is likely to grow significantly in the next few years as Telkom continues to struggle to service the pent-up demand for its ADSL services.
“A customer might need to wait for up six to eight weeks for an ADSL service to be installed, but can get up-and-running immediately with a cellular data card,” notes Taylor.
In addition, mobile data services are available in many parts of the country that are under-serviced by Telkom. Many users also see the ability that mobile broadband gives them to be connected wherever they are as a major benefit, although there is a danger that 3G and HSDPA networks may become congested as a result of mass-market adoption.
“Operators will need to keep investing in their networks to keep ahead of demand, since many users may switch back to ADSL if they experience slow or unreliable connections on the cellular network,” Taylor says. “Of course, many customers will still want a fast, low-latency ADSL connection at home or work for high-end applications, and may complement this with a cellular data card for mobile use.”
Taylor believes that the growth in the broadband market is going to come from three major sources: the emerging black middle-class, the existing pool of dial-up Internet users, and businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, that roll out mobile data applications.
He notes that broadband technologies – wireless, mobile and ADSL – are all becoming more accessible to the mass-market and prices compare favourably to dial-up for even light Internet users. For example, a user can access a basic 384kbps ADSL subscription with 1Gb of ADSL data for a year, a router and a 4Gb POP mailbox (excluding analogue line rental and calls) for as little R139.00 per month, from Nashua Mobile on a special that will last until 31 March 2009.
“We’re bringing more competition to this market, and hope to help drive prices down even more as and when the opportunities arise,” says Taylor.
Businesses are also expected to be enthusiastic adopters of mobile broadband solutions over the next two years. The technology for mobile computing – handheld devices as well as cellular connectivity – is now stable enough to underpin mission-critical processes and affordable enough to be in reach of smaller businesses.
Couriers, estate agents, and mobile sales forces are just some examples of users that are expected to aggressively adopt mobile broadband solutions over the next two years.
Taylor expects that the mobile data market will continue to grow as the network operators introduce newer and faster technologies such as High-Speed Uplink Packet Access (HSUPA), the next evolution from HSDPA, and eventually, Super 3G, which will provide download speeds of up to 100Mbps.
“Wimax will eventually emerge as a force to be reckoned with, but the slow process of spectrum allocation means that cellular technologies will remain at the forefront of the market for the next two years,” says Taylor.
Eventually, however, cellular networks might reach the broadband market with a mixture of wireless broadband technologies like Wimax and GSM-based technologies like HSUPA and HSDPA where it makes sense.


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2 MIN READ
Gone Home getting an in-game commentary mode
The Fullbright Company becomes the latest on a short list of developers to offer an audio commentary track in its games, saying that a free commentary mode DLC will be added to Gone Home "soon."
The Fullbright Company has announced it is producing a free "commentary mode" DLC for its debut title, Gone Home. In an interview with Rock, Paper, Shotgun, Fullbright co-founder Steve Gaynor said the studio -- whose core team consists of just four people -- was eager to put some distance between itself and the game, but not before giving it a proper send-off. "We can keep supporting Gone Home in certain ways as we're trying to get in the headspace of what our actual next game will be," said Gaynor, who explained the commentary track would come as a free update on Steam. "We don't have a date for it yet, but it'll be relatively soon. We're aiming for the short-term, and we've already recorded most of it." The commentary mode will work similarly to those seen in Valve's Portal franchise, with icons that can be activated to play out audio remarks from members of the development team as well as "some easter-egg-y stuff."


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Microsoft has used Mobile World Congress 2015 to reveal a number of new smartphones powered by its Windows Phone 8.1 operating system, including two of its own phones. Windows Phone 8.1 is upgradeable to the forthcoming Windows 10 operating system.
These two ‘affordable’ Lumia phones are the Microsoft Lumia 640 and the Lumia 640XL. Both run on the 1.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor; the Lumia 640 has an 8-megapixel camera, a 5-inch screen and an anticipated SIM-free price of €159 + VAT (around £140 incl. VAT) for the 4G LTE model, while the Lumia 640 XL has a 5.7-inch screen and a 13-megapixel camera with a €219 price (around £192 incl. VAT). There are also lower-priced 3G/dual SIM versions. A one-year personal subscription to Office365 is included in the price, along with 1TB of OneDrive storage.
In addition, Microsoft CEO Stephen Elop says the company is planning new flagship devices later this year.


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just-food authors and correspondents
Articles by Andy Morton
Suntory Holdings has yet to officially confirm reports it has appointed a new chief executive.
Nelson Peltz has called on PepsiCo to deliver "not just platitudes and rhetoric", in an open letter demanding the food and drinks giant outline in detail why it refuses to split its beverage and snacks units.
Suntory Food & Beverage is to hold off on acquisitions for the next year, its CEO has said in an interview.
Suntory Beverage & Food, the owner of Asian food business Cerebos Group, has doubled first-half profits in its first financial statement since it started trading on the Tokyo stock exchange.
Suntory Holdings aims to raise JYN388bn (US$4bn) when it lists its food and soft drinks unit next week.
PepsiCo has posted a fall in full-year profits and sales as a 53rd week in 2011 results left a tough comparison.
PureCircle, a producer of stevia ingredients, expects first-half sales to surge as food and beverage companies sign up for the natural sweetener.
PepsiCo has unveiled a new US$40m research and development centre in Shanghai today (13 November), its largest outside of the US.
PepsiCo's president John Compton has left the group after less than eight months in the role.
- BRICs and beyond: Fonterra, Beingmate partnership
- Comment: Competition to rise on whey investments
- On the money: Mengniu hones in on "star" brands
- just-food interview: Agropur CEO Robert Coallier
- Consuming issues: The hunger-obesity paradox
- Valio lactose-free trucks stopped at Russia border
- Heinz halves sugar in ketchup launch
- Bisco Misr says Kellogg eyeing majority stake
- H1 profits down at dairy group FrieslandCampina
- Olam sells Cote d'Ivoire dairy to FrieslandCampina
- China - ISA Country Report
- Other Dairy in Russia
- New Strategies for offering Convenience in Food - targeting new occasions, best practice and new solutions
- David Chapman's Ice Cream Ltd in Packaged Food (Canada)
- Global Food and Grocery Retailing, 2013-2018: Market Dynamics, Retail Trends and Competitive Landscape


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This was a Canada only crisis, we could solve it in short order, Volpe said. Is calling, as Germany is calling. The stuff we need has never been in this kind of demand. Note that Al Jazeera would only get information about their own activity. There are various services that aggregate at a higher level, but they do cost money. If someone else higher in the user visibility chain sells the ads (eg google, facebook, yahoo) then they already have the comprehensive tracking and demographics.
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Canada Goose Coats On Sale The financial implications of the coronavirus outbreak has seen sponsorship money and wagering dry up, with the latter being the main source of prize money. Pubs, clubs and TAB retail agencies have been forced to close their doors, with the downward trend in wagering combined with a lack of catering revenue forcing Canberra officials to review prize money totals. MORE SPORT As such Clark has opted to cut back. Canada Goose Coats On Sale
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https://www.officialcanadagoosesoutlett.ca canada goose buy canada goose jacket Mr Brierley said reopening the hospitality sector “required more than just a date or a green light from the ACT government”. “It requires a careful consideration of what “operational” looks like in a practical sense,” he said. “In the post COVID 19 world, we expect there will be a need for capacity and venue restrictions, as well as mandatory provision of industrial relations advice and industry development training.” READ MORE: Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Mr Barr warned of the risks of easing physical distancing measures, saying it would take just “one crowd, one infected person” to undo the work done in recent weeks to contain the virus spread. buy canada goose jacket
Canada Goose Online The attempt to restart the NRL and other sporting codes has also been influenced by pressures exerted by financial considerations. There is nothing wrong with this push; the shutdown has decimated the livelihoods of thousands who depend on elite sport (from media to ticket sellers). As soon as sport stopped, sport industry workers were some of the first to be stood down. Canada Goose Online
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New Zealand Scales Everest Movie ‘Beyond The Edge’
Not to be confused with Sony Pictures’ Doug Liman-directed Everest, New Zealand’s General Film Corporation has announced the start of shooting on Beyond The Edge, a 3D feature about Sir Edmund Hillary’s 1953 ascent of Mt Everest. Local actors Chad Moffitt and Sonam Sherpa will play Hillary and his sherpa Tenzing Norgay for director Leanne Pooley. Matthew Metcalfe is producing and Rialto will release in New Zealand and Australia. Lord Of The Rings: Return Of The King production designer Grant Major; cinematographer Richard Bluck, second unit on The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and costume designer Barbara Darragh are all aboard. Altitude Film Sales has international rights. Completion is expected in September.
EOne Builds Canadian Teams
Following eOne’s acquisition of Alliance Films, the company has made new team appointments in Toronto and Montréal. EOne Films Canada has named Frank Mendicino SVP of theatrical marketing; Darlene Hotton is SVP theatrical sales; Naveen Prasad becomes SVP broadcast and digital sales; Richard Rapkowski is SVP business and legal affairs; Kevin Hall is EVP home entertainment, film; Jim Fotheringham is SVP home entertainment, distributed labels; Katya Forsyth is SVP finance and Mark Sloane is SVP acquisitions. EOne also said that Chris Lynch of Alliance’s home entertainment division is leaving the company as is Richard Fowler who worked in legal affairs and operations. The Montréal business, Les Films Séville, has named Victor Rego SVP of theatrical distribution; Xavier Trudel as SVP acquisitions and sales; Catherine Mateu as VP business and legal affairs; Chantal Pagé and Marie Hélène Lamarche as VPs marketing and promotion and Annie Tremblay as VP communications. Anick Poirier will continue in her current role of VP international sales for eOne Films International. Leaving are Guy Gagnon, president of the board of directors of Alliance Vivafilm and Les Films Séville co-founder Pierre Brousseau.
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A purple potato from Eastern Europe may be the key to solving the biggest economic obstacle facing the organic farming industry. The variety, so obscure that it has no name, appears to be almost totally resistant to potato blight, making treatment with fungicide unnecessary.
The discovery by scientists at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, England, has attracted experts from across Europe to admire a humble potato patch at a remote agricultural research station near Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland where the variety is being grown.
While plots of most common potato varieties are wilting and disfigured from the effects of being impregnated with seven deadly strains of the fungus which causes blight, the purple newcomer from Hungary is flourishing, with only a few tiny lesions on its healthy green leaves. The plot has been nicknamed ‘the purple patch’ ‘This is extremely promising for organic farmers and consumers,’ said Carlo Leifert (pictured), professor of ecological agriculture at the University. ‘A potato which can be grown commercially without using chemicals would be an important breakthrough for the organic movement worldwide.
‘The tiny lesions on the leaves are particularly encouraging because they show that the blight is present but not progressing. This suggests that the plants have a high level of durable resistance which is preventing the blight from reaching the potatoes underground.
‘In England and all other countries, the supply of organically-grown potatoes does not meet demand from consumers because blight is so prevalent. It destroys crops worth millions of pounds each year and deters many farmers from growing potatoes because the risks are so high. ‘That is why supermarkets have a very limited supply of organically-grown potatoes. There is little choice of variety and stocks frequently run out,’ said Professor Leifert, adding that it was too early to say whether prices might come down.
The potato trials at Close House research station, near the village of Heddon-on-the-Wall (by coincidence the origin of Britain’s foot-and-mouth epidemic), are England's contribution to a £3.5m European Union research programme called Blight-Mop, in which many new varieties of potato and agronomic control strategies being tested for blight control by Newcastle University and partner research centres in Denmark, Germany, Switzerland, France, Netherlands, Norway and Scotland (full list of contacts is below). Representatives of all nine research centres recently visited Close House to see for themselves the progress of the promising purple potato. Edith Lammerts a senior scientist from the Louis Bolk Institute in the Netherlands, said: ‘Blight is the biggest threat to organic farmers throughout Europe. In the Netherlands and in Northern Germany, blight has wiped out entire potato crops this year. The cost to farmers has been huge.’
While the visitors were intrigued by the purple potato, other promising candidates may yet emerge as the research programme continues. Professor Leifert points out that the variety still has to pass the taste-test and admits there may be marketing issues to address before supermarkets would include purple potatoes in their displays of organically-grown produce.
Facts about potato blight:* Potato blight is one of the most devastating plant diseases and has changed the course of history. The epidemics that destroyed potato crops in Europe in the 1840s led to mass starvation. For example, in the Great Irish Famine of 1845 to 1847 up to one million people died and a similar number of people emigrated to the rest of Europe and the USA.* The disease is caused by a fungus-like organism, Phytophthora infestans, which is a specialised disease of potato and, to a lesser extent, tomato. The fungus is dispersed by wind-borne spores, which emerge from the stomata (breathing holes) of infected leaves in humid conditions. When the spores land on a new leaf surface they enter the leaf stomata and germinate. * The first symptoms of potato blight are small lesions on the leaves, which rapidly spread and cause the leafy top of the plant to turn brown, wither and die. As the infection advances, the blight attacks the growing tubers, causing them to disfigure, become inedible and finally rot away.* Control of potato blight traditionally relies on copper-based fungicides such as Bordeaux mixture (consisting of two chemicals, copper sulphate and calcium oxide). However, copper is potentially toxic and is banned from food produce labelled as organically grown.
Web link: http://www.ncl.ac.uk/tcoa (Tesco Centre for Organic Agriculture at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne)
Materials provided by University Of Newcastle Upon Tyne. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.
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The third quarter isn’t even over yet, but Walt Disney has already hit its best-ever box-office year in Russia in local currency terms.
International Weekend 9/4/16
|1. Star Trek Beyond||$37.0M||$131.1M|
|2. The Secret Life of Pets||$17.3M||$403.0M|
|3. Jason Bourne||$12.0M||$223.0M|
|4. Suicide Squad||$11.8M||$375.5M|
|5. Ice Age: Collision Course||$8.2M||$326.6M|
|6. Mechanic: Resurrection||$7.6M||$17.8M|
|7. Finding Dory||$6.3M||$461.4M|
|8. Lights Out||$5.4M||$70.2M|
|9. Don’t Breathe||$5.3M||$8.6M|
The company’s releases have grossed 7.9 billion rubles ($120 million) by early September, a figure that is higher than the full-year haul for any previous year.
With four more months to go, Disney’s Russian box-office performance has handily surpassed last year’s figure of 7.3 billion rubles, the studio’s previous record in rubles.
The company’s biggest hits in Russia of this year are Zootopia, which has grossed 2.3 billion rubles, The Jungle Book (1.4 billion rubles) and Captain America: Civil War (1.1 billion rubles). That makes them the year’s top-, seventh- and ninth-highest grossing movies in Russia, respectively.
While this year’s box-office figure in rubles is the company’s highest of all time in the country, due to the Russian currency’s sharp devaluation over the last two years, 2013’s performance remains a Russian record for Disney in U.S. dollar terms. That year, Disney releases brought in in 5.8 billion rubles, which amounted to $183 million at that year’s average exchange rate of the ruble to the dollar.
Still, with such releases as Moana, Doctor Strange and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story scheduled before the end of the year, Disney has a chance to further boost its 2016 results in Russia.
Disney could also challenge for the record for a Hollywood studio’s best-ever performance in Russia in a single year. Universal, whose releases grossed 8.9 billion last year, currently holds that record.
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Tech City is a waste of Government money. Tech City is run by "nontrepreneurs". Tech City is jumping on the bandwagon, taking credit for organic growth of startups in Shoreditch. Tech City is little more than a PR company justifying its own existence. Tech Shitty. These are all criticisms levied at the UKTI-funded scheme.
Fighting against these criticisms are a torrent of Tech City press releases, which boast that there are a million new startups in the area, that the area is making both Silicon Valley and the City quake in their diamond boots, and that Digital Shoreditch will be as big as SxSW in four years.
Somewhere in the no-man's-land of this battle of words lies the real story.


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AU-EU D4D Hub launches new knowledge sharing platform “D4D Access”
The African Union - European Union (AU-EU) Digital for Development (D4D) Hub has launched a new online platform aimed at facilitating exchanges of experiences and knowledge between African and European digital actors.
Called “D4D Access”, the platform covers a wide range of topics, from e-governance to digital entrepreneurship, and contains many useful resources to support digital stakeholders in Africa and Europe – including public institutions, donors, academia, companies, and civil society organisations – to advance an inclusive and sustainable digital transformation.
The platform was presented on 30 November at the Internet Governance Forum 2022, which is taking place at the United Nations Conference Centre in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from 28 November to 2 December. The launch was attended by representatives of African and European institutions leading the implementation of their countries’ digital transformation.
Thomas Huyghebaert, Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to the African Union declared: “We welcome this new tool to foster exchanges of knowledge with our African partners. Being able to access information on different experiences, lessons learned, and good practices will help us shape a digital transformation that puts people at its centre. Promoting a sustainable and inclusive digital transformation is of the main objectives of the EU Global Gateway strategy and has become one of the key sectors of Africa-Europe cooperation.”
D4D Access responds to a growing demand for opportunities to learn about other countries’ digital transformation journeys. Such demand is reflected in the report of the EU-AU Digital Economy Task Force, which informs the Africa-Europe digital cooperation strategy. Moreover, knowledge sharing on mutually agreed terms is key to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as stated in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The platform is open to all African and European organisations to share their knowledge resources on D4D, allowing them to reach new audiences, increase their visibility, host their content, and showcase their expertise. All contributions are welcome and encouraged if they align with the purpose of the platform and are relevant, insightful, and freely accessible to its target users.
D4D Access is available at: www.d4daccess.eu
About the AU-EU D4D Hub
The African Union – European Union (AU-EU) Digital for Development (D4D) Hub supports African institutions to create an enabling environment for an inclusive and sustainable digital transformation. The project provides demand-driven technical assistance, promotes knowledge sharing, and facilitates dialogues.
The AU-EU D4D Hub is a Team Europe project, co-funded by the European Union and jointly implemented by eight European organisations. It is part of the D4D Hub, an EU-led platform that creates and leverages partnerships to shape a sustainable digital future worldwide.
Background on AU-EU digital cooperation
The African Union and the European Union have jointly agreed on the importance of digital technologies, data, and innovations as drivers for inclusive job creation and sustainable development. In December 2018, both parties launched the EU-AU Digital Economy Task Force aimed at identifying concrete policy recommendations and proposing concrete actions to address the principal barriers and increase cooperation in the digital field. The recommendations of the Task Force are mirrored in the AU Digital Transformation Strategy for Africa 2020 - 2030 and have guided the design of cooperation projects funded by the EU and its Member States, such as the AU-EU D4D Hub.
AU-EU D4D Hub Communications Officer
Press and Information Officer, EU Delegation to the African Union


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Snowboarder Travis Rice featured in new SSX trailer
By Khalil Daou on January 10, 2012
Video DescriptionThe latest trailer for EA Sports’ SSX the upcoming rebooted snowboarding title features professional snowboarder Travis Rice. The game is being developed at EA Canada; it features numerous real-world locales from the likes of the great Himalayas and the Antarctic.
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Image Credit: Courtest
Every week we track the business, tech and investment trends in CPG, retail, restaurants, agriculture, cooking and health, so you don’t have to. Here are some of this week’s top headlines.
Renowned chef José Andrés delighted diners at China Chilcano by serving cultivated chicken from Good Meat, following Upside Foods’ debut of their own cultivated chicken in San Francisco. With this development, both coasts of the United States have now had the opportunity to savor lab-grown meat. In a separate milestone, the Netherlands celebrated a government approval allowing tastings of cultivated meat and seafood. This decision marks a significant achievement for the country, which pioneered the cultivated meat category over a decade ago.
In other news, we’ve wrapped the first season of our podcast in partnership with AgFunder: New Food Order, a nuanced investigation into the business of tackling our climate and social crises through food and agriculture. Read all about why we launched the podcast, and be sure to subscribe and share!
Our newsletter takes a lot of time and resources to produce. Make a one time or monthly contribution to help us keep it going. Whether it’s $5 or $500, every bit helps and shows us that you value our work.
Both coasts have now had a taste of cultivated meat as chef José Andrés served Good Meat’s cultivated chicken last night after Upside Foods debuted its chicken in San Francisco last week.
Cultivated meat tastings will be given the green light in the Netherlands, marking a significant milestone for the country that launched the category more than a decade ago.
Investments in FoodTech decreased significantly in 2022 and kept declining even more sharply in the first half of 2023. This gloomy funding environment is specifically affecting unicorns.
The LGBTQIA+ and women-led fund aims to propel the transition of the colossal $1.5t global animal protein sector toward sustainable food practices.
Food industry giant Finnebrogue and food tech startup Ivy Farm Technologies have just embarked on a world-first mission to offer cultivated Wagyu beef burgers to the British market.
With the new funding, the company wants to cover more than 1m aquaculture ponds in Indonesia by 2025 and increase the transactions of fish feed and fresh fish on the platform.
The Korean BBQ restaurant offers guests an interactive experience in which they cook their own meats at the table.
Jenny Craig’s iconic brand name, which was priced up to $10m, will become a digital-only service.
They grew up at the nearly 40-year-old Asian grocery chain in the San Gabriel Valley. Now, siblings Alice and Jonson Chen are overseeing the national expansion of 99 Ranch Market.
This post originally appeared on TechToday.


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Video On Demand will be available soon.
The Chinese spin-off event of Smart City Expo World Congress celebrated its second edition in the city of Shanghai from 14-15 October 2021.
Organized by SCEWC, Fira de Barcelona and INTEX, the 2 days conference & expo will take place in the Shanghai Postal Museum.
Under the motto “The Smart is Rising”, Smart City Expo Shanghai presented an open ecological platform where global smart city project cases and the future trends of many cities will be presented, promoting innovative thinking and development.
Regional experts, academics and industry leaders joined the event congress to share their knowledge, so that technological innovation can improve city construction, benefit people from all countries, shared opportunities and created a better future together.


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IP Protection Enhances Local Firms’ Competitiveness
Patented ‘Hot Pants’ British Cycling Team’s Secret to Win
The British cycling team has in 2012 London Olympic Games won 7 gold medals, thanks to the athletes’ undeniable efforts. However, the new apparel referred to as “Hot Pants” they wore also cannot be ignored. The Adidas Adipower apparel they wore, that incorporates Firetronic HEATwear FIR, was said could warm the muscles of the riders before they train and race. Hong Kong-based Fibretronic was the company that owns intellectual property rights of this “Hot Pants”, and was invited by sports brand Adidas in 2011 to develop such technology for the British Olympic team to bring in explosive power and enhance athletes’ performance.
Fibretronic has applied exclusive patent rights for such technology to avoid plagiarisation and increase their competitiveness.
Patented Technology Wins International Brands’ Attention
Fibretronic was founded in 2004, specializing in developing products that are designed specifically for garments and electronic devices integration, as well as the manufacturing of washable garments that have electronic functions, such as music player buttons on the integration of wind jacket, easy to use home control switch, volume and song selection. The technology later even extended to Bluetooth and electric technology, and used on more clothing after registered the patent rights. Issac Man, General Manager of Fibretronic, said a patent application for the assembly technology, not only can protect their technology from plagiarization but also could attract business from big firms. With a number of patented technologies, the Hong Kong company has teamed up with international brands such as North Face and at the same time build awareness and acceptability within the industry.
Patent Protection is Key while Fast Application is Needed
Man said that the British cycling team was demanding both on the fabric quality and its heating function. They requested the temperature to be set 15 degree higher than past heating products, while the thickness of the fabric used need to be around 1 to 2 mm, which was also 2.5 mm thinner than the fabric they previous used. Furthermore, the heating area is 4 times of what they usually produced. Man said although this means a greater challenge it also has become the masterpiece of its patented products. As the assembly technology is what the company relied on as bread and butter of their business, patent protection has become a serious matter. “Once we have the new design idea, we will research the market to confirm if there were similar products and whether we could apply for exclusive patent rights,” Man said. "When the patent application completed, clients will not shift to other manufacturers easily or to develop similar product."
"We will do our best to apply for patents for each product. The process will start once the design work begins, details of whole design will be submitted further after completion. However, that does not necessarily mean you would get the patent at the end." Issac Man said the company has in the past developed a sports heartbeat band, despite the design is totally different, another company has fast in registering similar functions. Fibretronic therefore failed to patent its technology and has lost European and US clients’ interests. It well demonstrates the fact that products have not yet marketed may actually have been patented.
Capitalising Hong Kong’s R&D Personnel
Man noted the production of these smart garments requires professional knowledge, high level of skills in design and production, as well as greater flexibility and R&D expertise. As Hong Kong engineers are renowned for their great adaptability, Fibretronic decided to locate its R&D department here.
Caption: Fibretronic General Manager Issac Man said, to apply patent for self-developed assembly technology not only can protect their technology from plagiarization but also attract businesses from big firms.
If there is any inconsistency or ambiguity between the English version and the Chinese version, the Chinese version shall prevail.


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Film bosses have teamed up with Johnnie Walker to create the one-off blend to mark the new Blade Runner 2049 film.
It comes 35 years after Johnnie Walker Black Label was used as an iconic prop in the original movie.
There are just 2,000 bottles of 'Johnnie Walker Black Label The Director’s Cut' available.
Blade Runner 2049 director Denis Villeneuve said: “"Like many fans, I remember the Johnnie Walker bottle from the first film, so it was a unique privilege to collaborate with Johnnie Walker on designing a totally original, custom bottle for the new movie.
“It was also a once-in-a-lifetime experience to help create the limited-edition Director’s Cut blend, which perfectly captures the complex and mysterious world of Blade Runner 2049.”
The bottle will also appear in the new movie which opens in cinemas on October 5.
It stars Ryan Gosling as a new Blade Runner - LAPD Officer K - who discovers a dark secret that leads him to Harrison’s Ford Rick Deckard, a former blade runner who disappeared 30 years ago.
Johnnie Walker Black Label The Directors Cut is on sale at Amazon now.


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Microsoft Office users who refused to switch to a subscription model were very happy to hear last year that Microsoft was planning to launch a new version of the suite without a subscription. Now Microsoft has confirmed it's definitely launching this year as Office 2021.
Although Microsoft would really rather you subscribe to Office, due to the "widely embraced benefits," it realizes some customers either can't or simply won't move to the cloud. So "later this year" Office 2021 is launching for consumers and small businesses.
Although there's still very little detail on what to expect from this new version, Microsoft has shared some new information. First of all on pricing, which will remain the same as Office 2019. For reference, Microsoft Office Home & Student 2019 costs $149.99, while Home & Business 2019 costs $249.99. In both cases, the license is for a single user/PC/Mac.
Microsoft also confirmed that Office 2021 will be made available for both Windows and Mac users, includes the OneNote app, and offers a choice of 32-bit and 64-bit versions. The majority of users will be best off choosing the 64-bit version, but it's good to see support is still there for older hardware. Finally, Microsoft is promising Office 2021 will be supported for five years, giving you peace of mind you can spend the cash and be guaranteed to have a version of Office that will receive bug fixes and security updates until 2026.


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Las Vegas (NV) - We had the opportunity to take a behind-closed-doors look at Westinghouse's newly announced wireless HDTV sets, as well as several other interesting products it had on display.The wireless HDTV technology allows users to have a high definition video signal sent to a TV with no physical cable connection. For example, you could have your Playstation 3 sitting on an A/V rack, and play it on your HDTV without worrying about hooking the two together.
It is powered by Pulse Link's CWave UWB chipset, which has a 1.35 Gbps over-the-air signaling rate and can deliver 890 Mbps. According to Westinghouse, the signal was still as strong as 115 Mbps when the devices were 40 feet apart. Westinghouse recently entered into a partnership with Pulse Link to provide the technology to their TVs. A release date is still unconfirmed.
For more details, check out our pre-CES coverage of Westinghouse.


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San Francisco – Seven companies will pay $553 million to settle a
lawsuit for alleged price fixing on LCDs used in televisions and computer
monitors, more than five years ago.
A series of legal actions for alleged international price fixing
on LCD panels, named Chi Mei Innolux Corp., Chunghwa Picture Tubes, Epson
Imaging Devices, HannStar Display, Hitachi Displays, Samsung Electronics and
Sharp, along with U.S. affiliates for antitrust claims by eight states and class-action
The New York State Attorney General’s office disclosed some of
the settlements to the press on Tuesday.
Under the agreements, $501 million will be available for partial
refunds to consumers in 24 states and the District of Columbia who purchased
products containing TFT-LCD panels from Jan. 1, 1999 through Dec. 31, 2006.
States seeking compensation in the cases included: Arkansas,
California, Florida, Michigan, Missouri, New York, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
Documents in the Federal District Court in San Francisco show
Samsung agreeing to pay $240 million, Sharp agreeing to $115.5 million and
Taiwan-based Chimei Innolux agreeing to $110.3 million in the latest round of actions.
Also, Hitachi Displays is to pay $39 million, HannStar Display
will pay $25.7 million; Chunghwa Picture Tubes will pay $5.3 million, and Epson
Imaging Devices will pay $2.9 million.
The state penalties include $6 million to be paid by Sharp and
$5.7 million by Chimei, among others.
Samsung declined to comment on pending litigation.
Other companies named in the action could not be reached as this was posted.
In the documents, a number of the companies still disputed the
charges, but agreed to establish antitrust compliance programs and to help
prosecute other defendants as terms of the settlement.
Court approval is still pending on the settlement actions.
A number of companies have already pleaded guilty to antitrust
violations and paid more than $890 million in fines.
Other defendants that have yet to settle include Taiwan-based AU
Optronics; LG Display and Toshiba.
The settlements are the latest to come from a number of lawsuits that
had charged LCD panel makers with illegally inflating prices and stifling
competition in LCD panels between 1999 and 2006.
Probes were initially launched into the alleged anti-competitive
practices in 2006 in Japan, Korea, the European Union and the United States.
Other defendants that have yet to settle, including Taiwan-based
AU Optronics Corp, one of the largest LCD panel manufacturers; South Korea’s LG
Display Co and Toshiba Corp.


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Here is a recap of our 10 most read stories in November, featuring Nestle China's new A2 milk launch, new Blackmores CEO on India as a potential new market, Australia’s national regulator proposing to classify non-food appropriate sports supplements...
Here is a recap of our 10 most read nutrition stories in August, with stories featuring China's infant milk powder regulatory framework, India's Tirupati Group's new global president, and the benefits of the essence of chicken on working...
Here is a recap of our 10 most read nutrition stories in July, featuring the NutraIngredients-Asia awards finalist list, Thailand's new nutrient claims developments, how Gen-Z, infant boom, and retail integration are shaping China's health foods...
Here's a recap of our 10 most read nutrition stories in June, featuring key functional beverage trends in Japan, advice on sustainability and climate change from DSM and Blackmores, Australia's continued success in China, and more.
Here's a recap of our 10 most read nutrition stories in May, featuring nutraceutical advancements in India, probiotic innovations across APAC, and the latest regulatory, infant nutrition, and nutricosmetics news in China.
Here's a recap of our 10 most read nutrition stories in April, featuring the top regulatory and market news from China, nootropic innovations from New Zealand, Asahi's infant nutrition launch in Vietnam, and more.
Here's a recap of our 10 most read nutrition stories in February, featuring Blackmores' financials, regulatory news from China, new innovations from Japan, and emerging research from New Zealand and India.
Here's a recap of our 10 most read nutrition stories in January, featuring regulatory updates from China and Australia, Nestlé's moves in the A2 milk market, the top APAC supplement trends to watch this year, and more.
Here's a recap of our 10 most read nutrition stories in December, featuring infant nutrition in India, sports nutrition in APAC and the US, the continued popularity of Aussie supplements in China and more.
Here's a recap of our 10 most read nutrition stories in November, featuring innovations in sustainability, agriculture, and gut health, as well as the latest news on some of the hottest topics in China.
Leading members of the functional food, supplements, and healthy nutrition industry gathered in Geneva this week to celebrate huge successes ... and find out who won out in the battle to become a winner at the NutraIngredients Awards 2017.
From the potential cancer-fighting properties of seaweed to the most popular supplements among Chinese mothers, and the vitamin vending machines boosting business in Australia, here's a recap of February's top stories.


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Mark Holloway has stepped down from his role as Managing Director of De Rigo Vision Australia, effective 31 July 2018, to pursue opportunities outside the eyewear industry. His association with the company will continue as a Director on the Board.
Angelina Chee has been promoted from her role as Marketing Manager to the new position of General Manager, De Rigo Vision Australia. Chris Hanley will continue as the National Sales Manager.
In a statement, Mr. Holloway said, “During the past 24 years, Australia’s eyewear market has significantly changed and it continues to evolve. While we have faced many challenges, as have our retailers, I am confident that De Rigo Vision Australia, with the full support of the De Rigo Group, is perfectly positioned to continue to provide excellent quality product, brands, and the level of service that customers require to grow and prosper.”
During the past 24 years, Australia’s eyewear market has significantly changed and it continues to evolve
Mr. Holloway said he looks forward to supporting the team and contributing to future strategic decisions as a member of the De Rigo board.
Mr. Holloway was Managing Director of L’Amy Australia when the company was acquired by the Italian eyewear manufacturer De Rigo Vision in 2016 at a time when De Rigo Vision was L’Amy’s biggest supplier.


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As COVID-19 causes mandatory quarantines and postponed or cancelled events, companies like CLR Berlin are bringing their formulating concepts to the comfort of our homes.
Like other companies, CLR planned to launch its CutiBiome CLR product (INCI: Octyldodecanol (and) Leptospermum scoparium branch/leaf oil (and) Piper nigrum fruit extract (and) Magnolia officinalis bark extract) at in-cosmetics Global 2020. But due to the event's second postponement until October, the company moved the launch online in a section called, the “Innovation Zone.” Other dedicated sections from the company include a Formulation Lab, Makeup Bar, Sustainability Corner and Marketing Trends.
On March 31, 2020, CLR's virtual exhibition served as the launch for CutiBiome CLR. This synergistic complex of lipophilic extracts from manuka, black pepper and magnolia provides support for the natural balance between skin and its microbiota under challenging skin conditions such as acne and dandruff.
For more information, visit CLR Berlin’s website.


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How are Brits Responding to the financial crisisGoogle today revealed some surprising changes in what the British public are searching for online. The data come from Insights for Search, a free Google tool that analyses a portion of Google searches to compute how many searches have been done for a term relative to the total number of searches done on Google over time. Among the interesting trends:
- Searches for home safes are also up 150% over the levels in October 2007, and searches for safe savings are up 900%.
- People's money worries reveal themselves in both expected and unexpected ways: searches for petrol prices are up 200% over last year, and searches for negative equity are up by 220%. Searches for redundancy insurance are up 450% over this time last year.
- Britons are searching for comfort foods more: apple crumble is 40% more popular this year than last autumn.
- Searches for homes in Spain are down 28% from 2007, searches for moving home are down 16%, and searches for fitted kitchens are down 17%.
- People are also trying to economise: searches for vouchers are up 35% over 2007 and for budget meals are up 52% over 2007.
- Searches for sewing classes are up 60%, and searches for clothes swaps are up 90%. Searches for city breaks are down almost 20%.
View Marketing News Archive


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The day has arrived, fashion fans: Juicy Couture is back in the mainstream.
I know there are people who hoped that this day would never come but alas, the velour has returned and its prices seem to have rocketed. Before we look at Juicy’s new stuff though, it’s throwback time.
Whilst the brand was born in 1997, Juicy actually took off in 2001 when Madonna debuted her own custom designed tracksuit. After this came a stream of other celebrities donning velour of all shades and going about their daily lives. Hell, even Beyoncé wore a Juicy tracksuit back in the day. The result was a shift in the world’s perception of ‘the tracksuit’ – it wasn’t just for lounging around in anymore, it was for wearing out and about, and Juicy’s creations were the holy grail; their tracksuits became aspirational items that everybody wanted in their wardrobe.
Remember: Beyonce was the ORIGINAL ATHLEISURE KWEEN pic.twitter.com/va17J0Nvpa
— David Yi (@seoulcialite) March 31, 2016
The only problem was: who wants what everybody else already has? The end of the craze was nigh as the general public managed to increasingly get their hands on the tracksuits. The rich and famous soon stopped wearing them, completing Juicy Couture’s journey from boutique to the cheapened mainstream. The worldwide hype eventually dissipated.
Fast-forward to the here and now and the situation is very different; Juicy Couture is alive and kicking and seizing the power of street-style and athleisure.
The brand launched a collaboration with Victoria’s Secret Angel Behati Prinsloo last year, and now Topshop has decided to stock Juicy too. Competing with its high street enemy, Urban Outfitters have also launched a new Juicy campaign with Tinashe as their poster girl. The collection features exclusive items and one complete tracksuit will set you back just over £200, with an exclusive tracksuit from Topshop costing £289! Ouch.
Juicy Couture is seemingly re-establishing itself as a desirable brand, but is it here to stay? I personally don’t think so. However with both Kylie Jenner and Khloe Kardashian having recently been pictured in Juicy, the embellished velour will most likely stick around for a while. It’s time to ride it out!
— R O S S 🍬 (@KPkardashian4) March 2, 2017


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Teva contends that Mexican generics buy Rimsa sold defective, illegal products and lied about it, duping not only itself as buyer, but regulators and the public as well. But a new memorandum from Mexico’s drug watchdog doesn't help its case.
According to a March 13 document seen by The Times of Israel, Mexico’s Federal Commission for the Protection against Sanitary Risk (COFEPRIS) found no “unexpected adverse effects” among Rimsa’s 147 products and has located authorization for all of them within its archives.
Sixteen COFEPRIS checks on Rimsa dating back to 2009 also failed to turn up any issues that could pose health risks, and the body found documentation provided by Rimsa to be “truthful and correct."
The conclusions don’t exactly support Teva’s legal claims that Rimsa withheld discrepancies between manufacturing processes and descriptions in product registrations filed with regulators—or that it “took active steps to conceal the violations that were committed,” as a Teva spokeswoman put it last year.
"Teva has been working with the Mexican health regulator, COFEPRIS, to address and remediate identified issues," a spokeswoman said this week in a statement, adding that Teva is "committed to moving forward to bring the Rimsa products into compliance with applicable Mexican regulations by advancing its remediation plan in order to ensure the health and well-being of Mexican patients."
Those allegations cropped up not long after the Israeli drugmaker closed its $2.3 billion Rimsa acquisition last March. Teva had meant for the pickup to be a springboard for emerging markets expansion, with execs at the time praising Rimsa’s doctor relationships and local commercial presence.
But Rimsa’s new owner didn’t get what it signed up for, Teva says. Rimsa, however, sees things differently.
According to the Mexican company's account, it was “buyer’s remorse” that led Teva to sue as it searched for a way out of the deal. The sons of the company's co-founder said in a counterclaim that Teva concocted false fraud accusations after realizing it didn’t understand Rimsa or the Mexican market.
He-said, she-said aside, the Rimsa deal fallout didn’t boost investors’ faith in Teva’s dealmaking abilities, which already were up for questioning. Shareholders widely booed its $40 billion acquisition of Allergan’s generics unit, the other big buy under CEO Erez Vigodman’s watch.
Now, though, Vigodman is out, and the CEO-less company’s interim leadership is doing its best to “fix what is not working.” Their remedy could include a $2 billion sale of Teva’s women’s health unit that could help pay down debt, Bloomberg reported last week.
Editor's note: This story has been updated with comments from a Teva spokeswoman.


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The hosts of MSNBC’s Morning Joe on Wednesday ripped into the National Rifle Association (NRA) for using President Barack Obama’s daughters in an advertisement opposing new gun safety measures.
On Tuesday, the pro-gun lobbying group sparked outrage by releasing an ad calling Obama an “elitist hypocrite” for opposing guns in schools while allowing his own daughters to be protected by armed bodyguards. The ad comes one month after 20 children were gunned down at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, and just days after the NRA released a first-person shooting game for Apple’s iPhone and iPad targeted at children as young as four.
After reviewing the ad on Wednesday, MSNBC contributor Mike Barnicle immediately denounced it as “political pornography.”
keyboard shortcuts: V vote up article J next comment K previous comment


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Posted on: June 22, 2020
- You should not be pushing press releases — instead, PR professionals should lean on content marketing strategies, says Robert Rose, the founder and Chief Troublemaker of The Content Advisory.
- PR professionals can take matters into their own hands by writing the interesting, original stories they want the media to cover.
- “That lack of trust, while kind of a sad state of the world, is an opportunity for us as brands to create that trust — to create content that is trusted and gives our audience the value they are looking for,” Robert says.
The truth is, the standard fill-in-the-blank press release just isn’t very effective these days. It’s time to switch up your PR strategy.
With more than 30 years of experience in the PR and marketing industry, he’s helped global brands develop content marketing strategies, including Capital One, NASA and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
He also served as the chief strategy advisor at the Content Marketing Institute for nearly a decade and has written countless books on the topic.
On episode 80 of The PR Maven® podcast, I spoke with Robert about why PR professionals should embrace content marketing. He also shared some of his top tips for the PR world — including how to hide unsavory press.
Robert doesn’t sugarcoat it. In his opinion, the PR world has largely lost its way.
“It used to be that PR was the corporate storyteller,” he says. “Somewhere along the way, PR has become the pusher of press releases.”
Rather than using the standard press release template with some lengthy quote from the CEO, Robert suggests PR pros lean on content marketing.
He shares his go-to content marketing tips PR professionals can add to their brand strategies:
1. Take matters into your own hands
It can be frustrating when the media doesn’t pick up a single press release, but you have to ask: Why is that?
“Because it’s not interesting,” Robert says.
His solution? Write the interesting, original stories you want the media to cover.
That’s what the job search website Monster did. It has amped up its editorial strategy by tapping into its rich job search data to produce original research. This research is then handed over to the PR team, so now, instead of exclusively pushing press releases about a new vice president or a new website feature, it’s getting brand exposure by sharing interesting tidbits from the job search world.
“They’re now out there trying to get coverage for this new original research, which of course publications like Fast Company, Inc. and Entrepreneur are all over,” Robert explains.
For example, earlier this year, CNBC Make It covered a story about the most popular day of the week to apply for jobs, which included data from Monster, as well as a quote from Monster’s career expert.
2. Bury the bad stuff
If you, your brand or your company has received unflattering press, one of the best content marketing strategies is to bury it with better content.
Over the years, several companies have approached Robert wondering how they can get rid of bad press published a couple years prior.
You can’t get rid of it, he says. Instead, you bury it.
“What you do is you overwhelmingly produce great content to the point where it becomes a smaller and smaller piece of your ocean,” he says.
3. Think outside the [text] box
When it comes to content marketing, we often think of copy — a blog, a social media post or a magazine article. But don’t let yourself get trapped in that box.
“Really, content is as broad as the word is,” Robert says. “It can be any experience where we can deliver better, more valuable experiences to our audiences that actually help them in some way.”
This experience could be an event, TV show, webinar, podcast — anything that leaves the audience feeling inspired, educated or entertained.
Robert says he’s worked with a few companies that host brand dinners with four to five people. Rather than hosting a large event or conference, a smaller dinner can be a more intimate way to talk about your brand and generate excitement and awareness around it.This also a great way to build relationships and simply enjoy a meal together.
This approach could be particularly useful for companies that have legal/compliance/privacy standards they have to adhere to — like software, security or financial companies.
4. Incite trust by offering value to your audience
Each year, global communications company Edelman releases the Edelman Trust Barometer report, which gauges, in part, society’s trust toward the media. Perhaps unsurprisingly, people’s trust in the media is consistently declining.
That’s why now, more than ever, it’s important for brands to build trust by offering value.
“That lack of trust, while kind of a sad state of the world, is an opportunity for us as brands to create that trust — to create content that is trusted and gives our audience the value they are looking for,” Robert says.
One of the earliest examples of content marketing — and perhaps the best example of this idea — is John Deere’s The Furrow magazine. The agricultural magazine was created in 1895, and it aimed to teach its audience how to become better farmers.
By delivering that value through the magazine, the brand built its readers’ trust. Then, when farmers saw success, they’d turn to John Deere to buy more equipment because John Deere had offered that value.
“Ultimately, when I entertain, inspire or educate you, you come to the conclusion that you need what I’m selling,” Robert says. “That’s really the heart of content marketing.”
This is based on episode 80 of The PR Maven® Podcast, a podcast hosted by Nancy Marshall. Weekly interviews feature industry leaders, top executives, media personalities and online influencers to give listeners a peek into the world of public relations, marketing and personal branding. Subscribe through Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.


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Chicago-based First Midwest had $ 1.7 billion, or 17%, of its commercial loans on deferral plans as of June 30. “I think it will be less than half that amount in the second round,” bank chairman Mark Sander told analysts on July 22. “Can be significantly less than half. But that, as we have told our customers about, I think it will be in that 25% to 40% of those who asked for it in the first round asked for it in the second round.
Yet 40 percent is almost 7 percent of outstanding commercial loans. At the end of 2009, First Midwest’s non-performing and restructured loans represented 5.3% of its portfolio.
The types of businesses that profit from forbearance are not surprising. Sectors hard hit include restaurants, franchisees of fast food chains, hotels and neighborhood shopping center owners.
Wintrust provides particularly detailed information on the types of borrowers enjoying the greatest relief. Almost 10% of its commercial and industrial customers benefit from deferral plans. But the figures for fast food franchisees are revealing: almost 34%.
Likewise, a quarter of Wintrust’s loans to retail commercial real estate customers are in arrears. Franchisees and malls combine for $ 610 million in deferrals, or 36% of Wintrust’s total of $ 1.7 billion.
Local malls are in poor condition, Richard Murphy, director of loans at Wintrust, told analysts on a July 22 conference call. Wintrust has the ability to withdraw as much money as possible from these if they fail, but, “generally the borrowers want to work with us, and we want to work with them. So I wouldn’t say we’re downsizing and running a segment of the portfolio right now, ”he said.
Chicago-based Byline Bank, with $ 6.2 billion in assets, has the highest share of commercial borrowers among the four deferral, at 18%. As of July 16, clients borrowing 10% of that total of $ 617 million had requested a second 90-day deferral, CEO Alberto Paracchini told analysts on July 24. He predicted that no more than 30% would ask for a second round.
Another wild card for the banks: Many of their forborne customers have also obtained federal paycheck protection program loans that are forgivable. As these loans run their course in the second half of this year, some struggling businesses will have to choose between even greater cost cuts than they already have and staying current on their unsubsidized bank loans. .
Paracchini pointed out the restaurants. “It will just depend on how these companies can continue to resume operations, once these companies withdraw those subsidy payments from the government guarantee side, will hopefully continue to grow their business to see what.” resemble their performance. this time and more importantly in the future, ”he told analysts.


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Universal Studios Japan has officially confirmed that Super Nintendo World has been delayed.
In the released statement, which accompanies the park’s efforts to enforce safety guidelines against the COVID-19 pandemic, Universal plans on releasing an opening timeframe around this Fall.
The delay should come to no surprise as the effects of the pandemic are being felt far and wide, especially in the travel industry.
From the release:
Regarding “SUPER NINTENDO WORLD,” which aims to open before the Tokyo Olympics, we are considering introducing it in line with the future increase in the number of customers and will announce the opening time around this fall.
Universal had just started their promotion campaign earlier this year, calling 2020 the “Year of Super Nintendo World”.
Super Nintendo World will open across all Universal Parks, including Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal Orlando, and Universal Studios Singapore.


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The evolution of lab-grown meat: Aleph Farms creates “first” cell-grown steak
12 Dec 2018 — Israeli firm Aleph Farms has created what it says is the first cell-grown minute steak, using its capabilities for growing different types of natural beef cells into a fully 3D structure similar to conventional meat. The cell-cultured meat space has been heating up recently, marked by a number of innovators launching cell-culture patties and meatballs. However, with its distinctive texture and complex shape, the steak remained an elusive target for innovation. According to the food-tech start-up, this breakthrough not only obtains the true texture and structure of beef muscle tissue steak, but also the flavor and shape, establishing a new benchmark in cell-cultured meat technology.


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Taco Bell's $5 Buck Box or "Big Box" includes a Crunchwrap Supreme or a Cheesy Gordita Crunch, a Burrito Supreme, a Crunchy Taco and a medium fountain drink
From Sept. 26 to Nov. 10, anyone who purchase a $5 “Buck Box” at a participating Taco Bell site will automatically be entered for a chance to “Play the Future First” and win a free PS4, every 15 minutes (before the PS4 release date). Sony and Taco Bell’s “Play the Future First” promotion is giving thousands of fans the chance to win a free PS4 before the PlayStation 4 hits retail on Nov. 15.
As the promotion runs, each PS4-branded $5 “Buck Box” will include a unique code. That code can be texted into Taco Bell for the chance to win a free PS4 prize pack. The prize pack contains one PS4 system, one copy of the PS4-exclusive game “Knack,” and a one-year membership to PlayStation Plus (PS Plus) for you to play online with your new PS4.
PS4 branded Taco Bell $5 Buck Boxes or Big Boxes will be available at participating locations while supplies last. Consumers can also request a code without purchase by mail or online, as prize packs will be shipped on or around Tuesday, Nov. 12.
Of interest, more U.S. shoppers prefer Sony's upcoming PlayStation 4 than Microsoft's Xbox One, as a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll reveals that 26 percent of 1,297 people surveyed online last week say they are likely to purchase the new PlayStation 4 when available, versus 15 percent opting for the Xbox One. Find out more at Reuters.


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"Time is Money." Earlier this year, a rare 1949 Rolex, sold for $1.2 million at a Christie’s auction. In fact, that same auction sold over 400 watches for a total of $26.5 million in sales. As the public is developing a greater awareness and appreciation for timepieces as a smart investment, rare watches have become more than functional jewelry. Luxury watches have become apart of a new investment strategy.Rarity Factors
There are many factors that contribute to a watch’s rarity: limited production, craftsmanship, complicated movement, and brand. A few highly coveted watch brand are Rolex, Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet and A. Lange & Söhne. Celebrity connections can also add value to a timepiece. One other fascinating aspect about these watches that make them rare is that they are mechanical devices, not electronic, that can take up to three years to craft.Luxury Watches Increase in Value
One rare and great thing about luxury watches is that their value continues to increase. The primary reason is the rising global demand due to rising incomes, increasing aspirations, and heightened awareness of international trends. According to other sources, the overall global interest in watches grew 5.7 percent. Demand is also highest for the most well-known watch brands, such as Rolex and Patek Philippe.The Return
Rare timepieces traditionally increase in value 5-15 percent annually. The more rare and prestigious a watch is, the greater the investment return. For example,a rare 18 karat white gold Patek Philippe purchased in 1995 for $430,000 sold in 2010 for $3.47 million.
Luxury watches are a thing of beauty. But, with today's market, they are also becoming one of the safest investments to make with the best return. What will you invest in this holiday season?


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UPS drivers preparing to get behind the wheel will soon be using virtual reality to do so.
The company’s new VR training program will be rolling out next month at nine of the company’s training facilities, simulating some of the uncertainties and challenges of delivering packages on city streets. Trainees will interact with the content using voice commands to identify obstacles while wearing headsets.
“Virtual Reality offers a big technological leap in the realm of driver safety training,” said UPS exec Juan Perez in a statement. “VR creates a hyper-realistic streetscape that will dazzle even the youngest of our drivers whose previous exposure to the technology was through video games.”
While companies like Walmart have signed onto programs with enterprise-focused startups like Strivr Labs, UPS will be building its training materials in-house.
Virtual reality may be a more immersive technology but, when done poorly, training videos can be just as unbearable as more traditional instructional materials. The big issue right now is that making custom, realistic VR content able to take advantage of everything the medium has to offer really isn’t worth the effort.
Enterprise software companies could build (and some have) game engine-rendered content that allows you to move around and interact with the environment, but they often end up with dumpy PlayStation 1 graphics that wander too far from the real-world. Largely for this reason, most companies are opting for more realistic — but less interactive — 360 video.
While VR may not be as revolutionary as, say, drones to a company that ships packages across the globe, it can still be an effective tool for getting prospective employees ready before they get out on the job. It’s also important because UPS drivers are a clear candidate for utilizing AR headsets in the future to more easily keep track of shipments hands-free while preparing for drop-offs and pick-ups.


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Researchers suggest that teaching tattoo artists identify basic signs of skin cancer can help in identifying at early stage.
Want a perfect tan with complimentary skin cancer? Then book a tanning bed session.
The study suggests that a small glass of white wine a day could increase the risk of skin cancer by 13 percent.
Have you noticed a mole in your body that is changing in size and appearance? This may signify something.
Experts advise to choose and use sunscreen carefully to protect your skin from being damaged that may also cause skin cancer.
Summer means time in the sun -- but hopefully, not too much time, for health reasons.
A potential cancer drug called Keytruda can treat Melanoma, a skin cancer. It is also tested now for treating other hard-to-treat cancer types.
The U.S. Food and Drug (FDA) recently proposed a rule that would ban minors from using tanning beds-requiring anyone under 18 to sign a waiver regarding health risks at the first session and then every six months following.
Scientists have taken a closer look at dietary patterns and have found that frequent consumption of citrus, such as whole grapefruit and orange juice, may be associated with an increased risk of melanoma.
Many Americans are well aware that wearing sunscreen can help protect against premature aging and skin cancer, but a new study shows that many have relatively no clue about the indications that sunscreen labels represent.
Statistics show that melanoma rates are significantly higher among young adults since the 1970s. More specifically, researchers found a 250 percent increase, with young women appearing to be at highest risk for the health issue and accounting for roughly two-thirds of cases diagnosed in 2011, accord...
Researchers at the University of Sydney have found that certain vitamin supplements may help protect against skin cancers in people who are prone to the disease. More specifically, the study showed that a form of vitamin B3 yielded a 23 percent lower risk of developing skin cancers when compared to ...


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Capitalizing on the Popularity of “King the Land”
The Culture Ministry of Thailand is planning to promote locations featured in the new Korean television series, “King the Land.” The aim is to attract Korean tourists and fans of the drama. Culture Minister Itthiphol Kunplome appreciates the series for showcasing the country’s beauty and boosting tourism. He encourages fans to visit Thailand and explore the filming locations.
Filming Locations: A Blend of Thai and Korean Culture
Apart from Seoul, “King the Land” has been filmed in various locations in Bangkok, such as Wat Arun, Loha Prasat in Wat Ratchanadda, Wat Pak Nam Phasi Charoen, the Giang Swing, Ong Ang Canal, Khao San Road, Iconsiam, Siam Square, Asiatique the Riverfront, Siri Sala Private Thai Villa, and Mandarin Oriental Bangkok Hotel. The series also featured Thai restaurants like Vertigo & Moon Bar at Banyan Tree Hotel and the Ancient City in Samut Prakan.
A Global Phenomenon on Netflix
“King the Land” premiered on Netflix in June and quickly gained popularity. Directed by Im Hyun-wook, the series stars Im Yoon-ah, formerly of Girls’ Generation, and Lee Junho from the South Korean boy band 2PM. The show ranked second on Netflix’s Global Top 10 list for non-English shows last month, with 17.5 million hours viewed or 4.7 million views.
Tourism Authority of Thailand’s Expectations
According to Thapanee Kiatpaiboon, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) deputy governor, the series has fans worldwide eager to visit filming locations. TAT expects to welcome at least one million Korean tourists this year. So far, about 800,000 visitors from Korea have visited Thailand in 2023.
Expanding Tourism Opportunities
Thailand is not just relying on the popularity of “King the Land” to boost tourism. The country has seen a steady increase in foreign arrivals this year. Tourism authorities are also eyeing visitors from the Middle East, aiming to diversify their tourism market.
As “King the Land” continues to gain popularity, it is clear that promoting filming locations can be an effective strategy to attract tourists and showcase a country’s beauty and culture.


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The state of Maryland yesterday launched a new statewide discount drug card program called the Maryland Rx Card to help residents pay for prescription drugs, and named Safeway and Giant Food, LLC the preferred pharmacies for the program.
The Maryland Rx Card, which is free to all residents, will provide savings of up to 75 percent on prescription drugs (savings should average roughly 30 percent). The program has no restrictions to membership, no income requirements, no age limitations and no applications to fill out, and is accepted at more than 50,000 pharmacy locations across the country.
The card program was launched to help the uninsured and underinsured residents of Maryland afford their prescription medications. However, it can also be used by people who have health insurance coverage with no prescription benefits, which is common in many health savings accounts (HSA) and high deductible health plans. Additionally, people who have prescription coverage can use this program for non-formulary or noncovered medications.
Marylanders can download a free Maryland pharmacy discount card by visiting www.marylandrxcard.com, or by visiting any Giant or Safeway Pharmacy location.


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Toyota Industries Compressor Parts America announces USD 5.5 million expansion in Georgia [ USA ]
Toyota Industries Compressor Parts America (TICA) announced it will invest USD 5.5 million to expand its Pendergrass, Georgia, production facility to meet growing demand for its onboard power elect...
<Oct 27, 2020>
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“Reading books is a human right,” Bijan Khalili said on Public Radio International’s “The World” last month. Then, a few weeks later, he closed the doors to his Persian-language bookstore, Ketab Corp., after 36 years in Westwood.
For thousands of Iranian-Americans in Southern California, Ketab — “Book” in Persian — represented a community institution as a physical space on Westwood Boulevard where they could reconnect with their homeland. (It continues to sell books, movies and music online and by phone to local customers and Iranians around the world.)
Like so many brick-and-mortar operations, Ketab fell victim to the explosive growth of internet book sales and the logistical challenges of high rent and overhead and operating on a busy street with limited parking.
For the Iranian-American community in Los Angeles, the closing of the storefront was a major loss — one that took some history with it. Khalili, an Iranian-Jewish Kurd, said he hung the first Persian-script vertical sign on any business in America when he opened the store in 1981, and offered the first Iranian Yellow Pages ever published outside of Iran, which is still circulated and contains 2,500 listings.
Among the most notable areas of the bookstore was a shelf labeled “Books Prohibited in Iran.”
As a college student at National University of Iran in Tehran immediately before Iran’s Islamic Revolution, Khalili delivered passionate public addresses against the Ayatollah Khomeini and encouraged students to vote against regime change that led to the creation of the Islamic Republic of Iran in 1979. In 1980 he was imprisoned, and like thousands of others, he feared he would be executed without a trial.
Khalili still does not know why he was released after 11 days. When the Iran-Iraq War began that September, he traveled by bus to Istanbul, then by plane to Zurich, where, with the help of Swiss Jews, he received a humanitarian parole visa from the American consulate.
Khalili opened Ketab roughly one month after he arrived in the United States. He brought 10 beloved books, including “1984” and “Les Misérables,” which became the first books he kept at Ketab.
The store featured books and films in Persian on a variety of topics, from controversial biographies to explanatory works on Judaism and Islam, as well as books in English about Iran. Its patrons were mostly Iranian exiles eager for a taste of Persian culture.
Ketab was often the site of debate, evening poetry readings and locals reading their own works.
“Offering prohibited books was one of the duties of Ketab,” Khalili said. “Since the freedom of choosing and buying and reading of books was respected in Ketab bookstore, I believe there was no difference that the owner was a Jew or not a Jew. More importantly, I always carried books that were pro-Islam and against Islam, and at the same time books that were pro-Jewish and against the Jewish faith, and the same with Christian and Baha’i books.”
Customers varied by faith and included many Iranian Muslims who often purchased books about Zionism and Israel, Khalili said. Ketab also published calendars, on which Khalili made sure to include all prominent holy dates related to both Shiite and Sunni Muslims, and to Jews, Christians, Baha’is and “nonbelievers,” he said.
Ketab came to promote inclusivity of Iranian identity for exiles young and old, yet fewer young people visited the store in recent years, due to their inability to read Persian or their lack of interest in the language.
Rachel Sumekh, a 25-year-old Iranian-American Jew who was born in Los Angeles, said she first entered Ketab after completing a Persian-language class at UCLA in 2012. Her mother escaped Iran by camel in 1983, and her father arrived in Oklahoma for college in 1970.
It was at Ketab that Sumekh purchased her first Persian beginner’s book, a famous children’s tale titled “The Little Black Fish,” which promotes allegorical political themes of exploration and venturing into uncharted waters. The book held “prime real estate” on her bookshelf, she said.
“I wanted to pick up a proper book to keep my reading strong, and it was easier to peruse a physical bookstore in a foreign language than it is on Amazon,” Sumekh said.
While the storefront has closed, Ketab remains a prominent Persian-language publisher who bypasses regime censors, offering Iranians worldwide information on critical topics ranging from gender equality to the Holocaust. The latter is considered a particularly taboo topic by Iran’s Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance.
Ketab Corp. will continue to sell both Persian and English books online and by phone. It also will continue as a publishing source for books, as well as the Iranian Yellow Pages, which is available in a pocket edition, and the local Iranshahr newspaper.
“My hope is to send electronically all or most of the banned books into Iran,” Khalili said.
His efforts have produced unexpected results. According to the report on Public Radio International, some of those books already have made it into Iran’s National Library.


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Corporate payment solutions company $WEX said it has completed the acquisition of Electronic Funds Source LLC (EFS). $WEX paid approx. $1.1Bil in cash and issued approx. 4MM shares of its common stock to investment funds affiliated with Warburg Pincus, EFS' former owner, as consideration for the acquisition.
$KMB down close to 4% after it misses on earnings and revenue. Forecasts are lower for the year.
It is official, with $T buying $TWX, it looks like distributors want to own the content production too. Expect some good competition between Netflix ($NFLX), AT&T, Comcast ($CMCSA) and others. However, will this be good for the consumers will not be decided soon.
$NFLX a monster move, going up. Expect making some money on Monday.


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Capcom sold more games in its last fiscal year than in any other in its history.
In its end-year financial results published on Wednesday, which cover the year ended March 31, 2023, the Resident Evil publisher said it had sold 41.7 million games during the 12-month period.
That’s up from 32.6 million games the previous fiscal year and breaks its record for the most games sold in a business year.
The company said its game sales helped it achieve a sixth consecutive year of record-high profit “at all levels” and its tenth consecutive year of operating income growth.
The company achieved the record sales figure partly with the release of two new titles in its flagship series, Resident Evil 4 (which released a week before the end of the reporting period in March 2023) and Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak, which sold around 3.75 million and 5.45 million units.
However, the vast majority of its sales came from catalog titles, which Capcom defines as games released in the previous fiscal year or earlier.
These sales, which it says were mostly made up of titles in the Monster Hunter, Resident Evil and Devil May Cry series, reached 29.3 million units – exceeding the 24 million units in the previous fiscal year.
Capcom said 12.4 million in sales was made up of new titles. The company released 35 ‘new’ SKUs in FY23, including Mega Man: Battle Network Legacy Collection, Resident Evil Village: Gold Edition, Monster Hunter Rise Deluxe Edition, Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium and Capcom Fighting Collection.
89.4% of its game sales during the 12 months were digital (37.3 million) and 19.7% were sold in its native Japan (8.2 million). Other than MH Rise: Sunbreak and RE4, the company’s top-selling titles during the FY were Monster Hunter Rise (3.7m), Resident Evil 2 (2.25m) and Resident Evil 3 (1.95m).
Following the publication of its end-year results, Capcom’s share price hit an all-time high on Wednesday.
The company’s stock hit ¥5,270 ($38.97) on the Tokyo Stock Exchange earlier today. This time ten years ago, it had a share price of around ¥390 ($2.92).
Capcom said it expects to break records for sales and profit again in its current fiscal year, ending March 31, 2024, which includes the release of Street Fighter 6 in June and new IP Exoprimal in July.
Capcom‘s president recently said the company aims to sell 10 million copies of Street Fighter 6, which would break the series record of 7 million met by Street Fighter V.